Searching for Password Protected Files

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GaryC
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Posts: 16
Joined: Fri Jan 18, 2013 12:50 pm

Searching for Password Protected Files

Post by GaryC »

I just installed PDF-XChange Viewer v. 2.5.207. I can search easily through a long list of ordinary PDF files. If I had password protected files (with either one or two passwords) would I still be able to do a search? And if not, could this feature be added to the program? I presently do not have such password protected files to test, but in the future I might.

I am running Windows 7 Professional, X-64.
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Stefan - PDF-XChange
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Posts: 19930
Joined: Mon Jan 12, 2009 8:07 am

Re: Searching for Password Protected Files

Post by Stefan - PDF-XChange »

Hello GaryC,

And welcome to our forums.
If a PDF file requires a password before you can open it - then it's contents is encrypted and you can not search through it. It might still have some metadata that is not encrypted and the Viewer (and the Shell extension that comes with it) should be able to search through that metadata, but otherwise the contents is inaccessible.

If the document has only an author password - it will open directly but you need to enter a password if you want to change this file's permissions - then it's contents is not encrypted and you would be able to search through this file from Windows Explorer.

Best,
Stefan